Vice President Kamala Harris is being considered as the top alternative to replace U.S. President Joe Biden if he decides not to continue his reelection campaign, according to seven senior sources from the Biden campaign, the White House, and the Democratic National Committee. These discussions have arisen following Biden’s underwhelming performance in the first debate against Republican rival Donald Trump last week, which sparked concerns about his fitness for a second term and led to calls for top aides to resign.
While some influential Democrats have suggested other potential candidates, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, the sources indicated that bypassing Harris would be nearly impossible. If nominated, Harris would inherit the Biden campaign’s funds and infrastructure, benefiting from her high name recognition and strong polling among Democrats.
In a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, Harris trailed Trump by just one percentage point, a statistically insignificant difference given the poll’s margin of error. Additionally, Harris has already been vetted for national office and has withstood intense scrutiny from Republicans. U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn, who played a crucial role in Biden’s 2020 victory, has expressed his support for Harris as the Democratic nominee if Biden steps aside.
Michael Trujillo, a Democratic strategist, emphasized the difficulty of winning the nomination over Harris. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed concerns about Biden’s debate performance, attributing it to a “bad night,” and reaffirmed Biden’s commitment to seeking reelection. Harris’s team also reiterated her intention to serve a second term with Biden.
Biden’s campaign has secured 3,894 delegates after state primaries, with only a few uncommitted delegates remaining. These delegates are expected to formally nominate Biden in an upcoming virtual meeting. Donna Brazile, former interim chair of the Democratic National Committee, stated that Harris is the most viable candidate to step in if Biden decides not to run, emphasizing the importance of following the established process and acknowledging the significance of a Biden-Harris ticket.
Several Democratic strategists warned that passing over Harris, the first Black and woman vice president, could provoke backlash from key voter demographics. Despite this, some influential Democrats remain skeptical about Harris’s ability to defeat Trump. Harris’s approval ratings have remained below 40%, although recent polling suggests she and Biden have similar odds against Trump.
Harris has faced consistent attacks from Republicans and conservative media, which her allies often view as sexist and racist. Democratic donors who had been advocating for Biden to step aside have acknowledged the difficulty of sidelining Harris, despite their initial support for alternatives like Whitmer and Newsom.
The Biden campaign remains resolute, bolstered by a stronger performance from Biden during a recent speech in North Carolina. Stephanie Cutter, deputy campaign manager for former President Barack Obama, reinforced that Biden will remain the nominee, cautioning against internal party conflicts that could benefit Trump.
